Agroecology
Agroecology is a holistic approach to farming so we can sustainably produce enough diverse food while protecting biodiversity and natural resources.
Biodiversity - IFAD
省榕城司法强戒所领导深入所属医院开展工作调研
70%
of IFAD-supported projects conserve biodiversity
of IFAD-supported projects conserve biodiversity
US$ 4 billion
invested by IFAD in sustainable land management
invested by IFAD in sustainable land management
60%
of IFAD-funded projects support agroecological practices
of IFAD-funded projects support agroecological practices
?IFAD/Fernanda Dorado
Rich and biodiverse ecosystems are essential to produce our food and protect us from climate change impacts.
Context
百度 无论教育的言说如何姹紫嫣红，哪一种言说会像春风化雨四个字这样极广大而尽精微？随风潜入夜，润物细无声。
Biodiversity is the dizzying variety of plant and animal life in the world. It is essential for our survival, playing a key role in everything from producing clean air to regulating the climate. In fact, more than half of the world’s GDP depends on nature.
Yet since 1970, wildlife populations have decreased by an average of 69 per cent worldwide. This loss of biodiversity extends beyond environmental or moral concerns. It impacts human development and our economies, societies and security.
We need biodiversity to produce food. Soil, water and pollination are essential for food production and depend on intricate relations between animals, plants and fungi.
Despite this, our current food systems are major contributors to biodiversity loss. Poor rural communities are particularly vulnerable, as their livelihoods depend heavily on nature.
Instead of growing a diverse range of crops with varied attributes, farmers are switching to high-yield varieties of single crops. These are all similarly vulnerable to climate change and disease, which decreases food security. As cash crops replace traditional crops, food cultures and nutrition diversity are also threatened.
Opportunities
Investing in sustainable and diverse food systems is critical to protect biodiversity and mitigate climate change while ensuring food security. The Global Biodiversity Framework outlines an approach to agriculture that harnesses ecological processes. This helps build local food systems that are fair, resilient, sustainable and economically viable.?
Restoring degraded ecosystems could store up to 3 billion tons of carbon annually while creating cooling effects and safeguarding against extreme events, like floods and wildfires. In coastal areas, natural habitats, such as mangrove forests and coral reefs, are crucial barriers against storm surges.
Agrobiodiversity makes farming livelihoods more sustainable and resilient, while providing vulnerable families with more access to diverse and nutritious foods.
When communities lead conservation efforts, they effectively strike a balance between safeguarding nature and earning incomes. Investing in biodiversity also presents significant economic opportunities, potentially generating up to US$ 10 trillion in additional annual business revenue and creating millions of new jobs.
If we can bridge the funding gap for nature, the world stands to reap immense benefits – from economic growth to our very existence.
What IFAD does
IFAD is a key partner in the inclusive and equitable implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
We mitigate the biodiversity risks of our projects using Social, Environmental and Climate Assessment Procedures (SECAP).
Most of our projects include agroecology and biodiversity-friendly practices, such as diversified farming, community seed banks and agroecological gardens.
Indigenous Peoples are guardians of biodiversity. We work closely with them to safeguard it and foster sustainable food systems.
We lead participatory landscape approaches that empower communities. Through this, rural people restore lands, practice climate-resilient agriculture, use geospatial planning tools and uphold their rights to manage natural resources. In Bhutan, we helped develop a natural resources governance framework which incentivizes the protection of forests.
IFAD’s Biodiversity Strategy tracks improvements in biodiversity and the economic value of nature in our projects using the ABC-Map tool.
We mobilize green finance and use innovative finance mechanisms to attract private capital towards biodiversity. In Kenya, the Upper Tana Natural Resource Management Project mobilizes public and private funds to manage land and natural resources sustainably. This, in turn, delivers clean drinking water to the capital, Nairobi.
We incentivise biodiversity by linking diverse products to markets, introducing biodiversity standards and creating opportunities for rural people to earn from high-value products.
Quick links
Experts
Lei Han
Country Programme Analyst, Asia and the Pacific
[email protected]Lei Han
Country Programme Analyst, Asia and the Pacific
[email protected]Keep exploring
